Sales operations assistance device, sales operations assistance method, and sales operations assistance non-transitory computer readable medium

ABSTRACT

A sales operations assistance system (1) is configured including a store employee terminal (10) operated by a store employee and a medium (12). The medium (12) has a storage area that stores first information that indicates a type of a product. The store employee terminal (10) includes a communication unit (102) and a notification unit (104). The communication unit (102), by communicating with the medium (12), reads the first information stored in the storage area of the medium (12). The notification unit (104) acquires second information (additional information related to the product corresponding to the first information), using the first information read by the communication unit (102), and outputs the second information to a first output apparatus (1042) for use by the store employee.

This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/959,525 filed on Jul. 1, 2020, which is a National Stage Entry ofPCT/JP2018/047646 filed on Dec. 25, 2018, which claims priority fromJapanese Patent Application 2018-000611 filed on Jan. 5, 2018, thecontents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference, in theirentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to a technique for assisting sales operations.

BACKGROUND ART

There is a case where, when a customer purchases a product, the customerinforms a store employee of a desired product, and the store employeetakes the product out of a back room or the like and hands the productto the customer. In general, a large number of products are sold in astore, and a lineup and arrangement of products sold in the store mayvary according to seasons, a plan of the store, and the like. Thus, itsometimes takes a long time for a store employee to find a product thata customer desires to purchase.

Examples of a technique for finding a desired product are disclosed in,for example, PTLs 1 and 2 described below. In PTL 1 described below, atechnique is disclosed in which product information of a product that acustomer desires to purchase is recorded in an information recordingmedium, such as a membership card of the customer, in advance, and acontrol apparatus reads the product information recorded in theinformation recording medium and, based on the read product information,specifies and displays a display place of the product. In PTL 2described below, a technique is disclosed in which, by use of productinformation of a product selected by a customer on a product selectionscreen, location information of the selected product in a store fronthousing rack, which houses various types of products, is specified and,by causing a light emitting element corresponding to the locationinformation to emit light, the location of the product is notified.

In PTL 3 described below, a technique is disclosed in which informationof a recommended product that resembles a product selected by a user ona terminal is acquired and the acquired information is provided to auser in conjunction with information of a display place and a price ofthe recommended product.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

[PTL 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-222478

[PTL 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-061210

[PTL 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-029643

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

The technique in PTL 1 described above is a technique for notifying acustomer, not a technique for notifying a store employee. In thetechnique in PTL 2 described above, a customer is required to look for adesired product from the product selection screen. When a large numberof types of products are sold in the store, convenience for a customeris further reduced. When a product that a customer desires to purchaseis not sold in the store, the customer cannot find out that the productis not sold in the store unless the customer checks the entire productinformation in the product selection screen.

The disclosure is made in consideration of the above-described problems.An object of the disclosure is to provide a technique capable ofachieving both labor saving in the operation performed by a storeemployee and improvement in convenience for a customer at the same time.

Solution to Problem

According to the disclosure,

-   -   a sales operations assistance system including:    -   a medium that has a storage area that stores first information        that indicates a type of a product; and a store employee        terminal that a store employee operates,    -   in which the store employee terminal includes        -   a communication unit that reads, by communicating with the            medium, the first information stored in the storage area,            and        -   a notification unit that acquires second information of the            product, using the first information read by the            communication unit, and outputs the second information to a            first output apparatus for use by the store employee    -   is provided.

According to the disclosure,

-   -   a sales operations assistance method performed by a computer,        the method including    -   by communicating with a medium having a storage area that stores        first information indicating a type of a product, reading the        first information stored in the storage area; and    -   acquiring second information of the product, using the read        first information, and outputting the second information to a        first output apparatus for use by a store employee    -   is provided.

According to the disclosure,

-   -   a program causing a computer to execute the above-described        sales operations assistance method is provided.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

The disclosure enables both labor saving in the operation performed by astore employee and improvement in convenience for a customer to beachieved at the same time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above-described object and other objects, features, and advantageswill be more apparent by the preferred example embodiments describedbelow and the following drawings accompanying therewith.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram conceptually illustrating a configuration of asales operations assistance system in a first example embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of astore employee terminal in a sales operations assistance system of afirst example embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow in the salesoperations assistance system according to the first example embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram conceptually illustrating a configuration of a salesoperations assistance system according to a second example embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of astore employee terminal in the sales operations assistance system of thesecond example embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow in which a writingunit writes first information in a medium.

FIG. 7 is a diagram conceptually illustrating a configuration of a salesoperations assistance system according to a third example embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an arrangement ofelements constituting the sales operations assistance system in thethird example embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a product display shelf when viewedfrom the front.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram conceptually illustrating a hardwareconfiguration of the sales operations assistance system of the thirdexample embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow in the salesoperations assistance system according to the third example embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram conceptually illustrating a configuration of asales operations assistance system according to a fourth exampleembodiment.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram conceptually illustrating a hardwareconfiguration of the sales operations assistance system of the fourthexample embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow in the salesoperations assistance system according to the fourth example embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating another processing flow in the salesoperations assistance system according to the fourth example embodiment.

EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT Outline Description

First, the disclosure will be broadly described. A sales operationsassistance system according to the disclosure is configured including amedium and a store employee terminal. The store employee terminal is aterminal that a store employee operates. The store employee terminal isinstalled at, for example, a checkout counter of a store. The medium hasa storage area into which any information can be stored. In the storagearea of each medium, information (hereinafter, also referred to as“first information”) that indicates a type of a product corresponding tothe medium is stored. The media are, for example, sold to customers at astore front. The media may be lent or provided without charge tocustomers by the store. Each customer obtains a medium storing firstinformation of a desired product, such as a product that the customerfrequently purchases. By causing the store employee terminal to read theobtained medium in place of verbally communicating the type or the likeof the product to a store employee, the customer can receive a serviceusing the medium. Although details will be described later, the storeemployee terminal specifies a product corresponding to the medium, basedon first information stored in the storage area of the medium. The storeemployee terminal acquires information (hereinafter, also referred to as“second information”) relevant to the specified product. The storeemployee terminal notifies the store employee of the acquired secondinformation.

Hereinafter, example embodiments of the disclosure will be describedusing the drawings. In all the drawings, the same signs are assigned tothe same constituent elements, and a description thereof will not berepeated. Unless specifically described, in block diagrams, each blockrepresents a component as a functional unit instead of a hardware unit.

First Example Embodiment System Configuration

FIG. 1 is a block diagram conceptually illustrating a configuration of asales operations assistance system in a first example embodiment. Asillustrated in FIG. 1 , a sales operations assistance system 1 isconfigured including a store employee terminal 10 and a medium 12.

The medium 12 has a storage area that stores first information. Thefirst information stored in the medium 12 includes at least informationindicating a type of a product. As an example, the first informationstored in the storage area of the medium 12 is product identificationinformation for identifying each product. As another example, the firstinformation stored in the storage area of the medium 12 may beinformation that is common (invariable) to a plurality of differentstores as “information indicating a type of a product”, such as a uniquename of the product. Storing information common to a plurality of storesas described above in a medium 12 enables a customer possessing themedium 12 to receive a service using the medium 12 at a plurality ofdifferent stores.

The medium 12 is, for example, a radio frequency identification (RFID)tag. It should be noted that, the shape of the medium 12 is notparticularly limited. For example, the shape of the medium 12 may be acard type or a coin type. The medium 12 may be configured to beattachable to any object. For example, the medium 12 may have a surface(hereinafter, also referred to as an “adhesive surface”) to at least aportion of which an adhesive agent is applied. In this case, the medium12 is attached to a possession of a customer, such as a lighter and acard, by the adhesive surface. The medium 12 may have a surface(hereinafter, also referred to as an “identification surface”) a portionof which includes information for identifying a product corresponding tothe medium 12. For example, the medium 12 may have a surface on whichthe name of a product is printed or a surface on which a package imageof a product is drawn as the above-described identification surface. Itshould be noted that, when the medium 12 has an adhesive surface, theidentification surface is preferably provided on a surface other thanthe adhesive surface. The medium 12 having an identification surfaceenables the customer to easily recognize a medium 12 corresponding to adesired product.

The store employee terminal 10 is a terminal operated by a storeemployee. The store employee terminal 10 is installed at, for example, acheckout counter of a store. As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the storeemployee terminal 10 includes a communication unit 102 and anotification unit 104. The communication unit 102 communicates with theabove-described medium 12 and thereby reads first information stored inthe storage area of the medium 12. The notification unit 104, usingfirst information read by the communication unit 102, acquiresadditional information (second information) relevant to the productindicated by the first information. The second information is, forexample, stored in the store employee terminal 10 or an externalapparatus that can communicate with the store employee terminal 10 inassociation with the first information stored in the medium 12. Thesecond information includes at least information informing a storeemployee of a product that the customer desires to purchase and/or alocation where the product is located. As a specific example, the secondinformation is, for example, the name of the product, informationindicating a display place of the product, and the like. The informationindicating a display place of the product may be, for example,information like a map illustrating the display place of the product orinformation like a number (a consecutive number or a number like A-2that means the second column on the shelf A) that is assigned to eachdisplay location of a product. The second information may furtherinclude other information, such as information on a price of the productand benefits (for example, a discount or a price reduction) applied tothe product. The notification unit 104 outputs the second informationacquired based on the first information read from a medium 12 to anoutput apparatus 1042 (hereinafter, referred to as a “first outputapparatus”) for use by a store employee.

Hardware Configuration

The functional constituent units of the above-described store employeeterminal 10 may be achieved by hardware (for example, hardwiredelectronic circuits) that achieves the functional constituent units orachieved by a combination of hardware and software (for example, acombination of an electronic circuit and a program controlling theelectronic circuit). Hereinafter, a case where the functionalconstituent units of the store employee terminal 10 are achieved by acombination of hardware and software will be further described.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of thestore employee terminal 10 in the sales operations assistance system 1of the first example embodiment. The store employee terminal 10 includesa bus 1002, a processor 1004, a memory 1006, a storage device 1008, aninput/output interface 1010, and a network interface 1012.

The bus 1002 is a data transmission line through which the processor1004, the memory 1006, the storage device 1008, the input/outputinterface 1010, and the network interface 1012 transmit and receive datato and from one another. However, a method for connecting the processor1004 and the like is not limited to the bus connection.

The processor 1004 is a processor achieved by a central processing unit(CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or the like. The memory 1006 isa main storage achieved by a random access memory (RAM) or the like.

The storage device 1008 is an auxiliary storage achieved by a hard diskdrive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a memory card, a read onlymemory (ROM), or the like. The storage device 1008 stores programmodules that achieve the functions (the communication unit 102, thenotification unit 104, and the like) of the store employee terminal 10.The processor 1004 reading and executing the program modules in thememory 1006 causes the functions corresponding to the program modules tobe achieved.

The input/output interface 1010 is an interface for connecting the storeemployee terminal 10 and various types of input/output devices to eachother. In the example in FIG. 2 , to the input/output interface 1010,the first output apparatus 1042 and a medium reading apparatus 1022 areconnected. The medium reading apparatus 1022 is an apparatus that readsfirst information stored in the storage area of a medium 12. The mediumreading apparatus 1022 supports, for example, various types of wirelesscommunication standards and is configured to read first informationstored in a medium 12 by means of wireless communication with the medium12. The medium reading apparatus 1022 may be equipped with a camera andconfigured to read information on the identification surface of a medium12, using an image recognition technology. The first output apparatus1042 is an apparatus, such as a display and a speaker, that outputsinformation to a store employee.

The network interface 1012 is an interface for connecting the storeemployee terminal 10 to a network. The network is, for example, a localarea network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN). A method by which thenetwork interface 1012 connects to a network may be wireless connectionor wired connection.

It should be noted that, the hardware configuration of the storeemployee terminal 10 is not limited to the configuration illustrated inFIG. 2 . For example, in addition to the medium reading apparatus 1022and the first output apparatus 1042, another apparatus that is used inthe business of the store may be connected to the input/output interface1010. Examples of the another apparatus that is used in the business ofthe store include, for example, an input apparatus, such as a mouse anda keyboard, a display that displays business screens, a touch panel intowhich an input apparatus and a display are integrated, a scanningapparatus for product recognition, a cash register, a drawer, and anautomatic change dispenser.

Operation Example

Using FIG. 3 , a processing flow of the sales operations assistancesystem 1 of the present example embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 isa flowchart illustrating a processing flow in the sales operationsassistance system 1 according to the first example embodiment.

First, the communication unit 102 acquires first information(information indicating a type of a product) stored in the storage areaof a medium 12 (S102). Specifically, when a customer or a store employeewho has received the medium 12 from the customer holds the medium 12over the medium reading apparatus 1022 connected to the store employeeterminal 10, first information stored in the medium 12 is read by themedium reading apparatus 1022.

The communication unit 102 acquires the first information read by themedium reading apparatus 1022 and stores the first information in, forexample, the memory 1006.

Subsequently, the notification unit 104, using the first informationstored in the memory 1006 or the like by the communication unit 102,acquires second information (additional information of the productcorresponding to the medium 12) (S104). As an example, the secondinformation of the product is stored in the storage device 1008 inassociation with the first information stored in the medium 12. In thiscase, the notification unit 104 is capable of reading the secondinformation, which is associated with the first information acquired inthe processing in S102, from the storage device 1008.

Subsequently, the notification unit 104 notifies the store employee ofthe second information acquired in the processing in S104 via the firstoutput apparatus 1042 (S106). As an example, when the first outputapparatus 1042 is a display installed for store employees, thenotification unit 104 generates drawing data of a screen including thesecond information acquired in the processing in S104 and outputs thedrawing data to the display. In this case, the display installed as thefirst output apparatus 1042 displays a screen including the secondinformation, based on the drawing data acquired from the notificationunit 104. The store employee is able to know the second information ofthe product corresponding to the medium 12 by checking displayedcontents on the display. As another example, when the first outputapparatus 1042 is a speaker apparatus installed for store employees, thenotification unit 104 converts the second information acquired in theprocessing in S104 to voice data, using, for example, a known voicesynthesis technology and outputs the voice data to the speakerapparatus. The speaker apparatus reproduces a voice conveying the secondinformation of the product, based on the voice data acquired from thenotification unit 104. The store employee is able to know the secondinformation of the product corresponding to the medium 12, based on thevoice reproduced from the speaker apparatus.

Consequently, in the present example embodiment, based on firstinformation indicating a type of a product that is stored in a medium12, additional information (second information) of the product isacquired. The second information of the product is notified to a storeemployee via, for example, the first output apparatus 1042. Thisconfiguration enables a store employee to easily and accurately knowinformation on a product that a customer desires to purchase. It ispossible for a customer to inform a store employee of a product that thecustomer desires to purchase by means of a simple action of presenting amedium 12. In other words, both labor saving in the operation performedby store employees and improvement in convenience for customers can beachieved at the same time. The present example embodiment enables thepossibility of occurrence of miscommunication between a customer and astore employee to be reduced.

Second Example Embodiment

The present example embodiment differs from the above-described firstexample embodiment in further including a processing unit that writesfirst information in a storage area of a medium 12.

System Configuration

FIG. 4 is a diagram conceptually illustrating a configuration of a salesoperations assistance system 1 according to a second example embodiment.As illustrated in FIG. 4 , in the sales operations assistance system 1of the present example embodiment, a store employee terminal 10 furtherincludes a writing unit 106.

When a medium 12 is provided to a customer, the writing unit 106 writesfirst information in the storage area of the medium 12. The writing unit106 may be configured to write the first information in the medium 12 insuch a manner that the first information cannot be rewrittensubsequently. As an example, the writing unit 106 may be configured towrite flag information indicating that the first information cannot berewritten subsequently, at the same time as writing the firstinformation. In this case, the writing unit 106 is capable of, byconfirming presence or absence of flag information before performingprocessing of writing the first information in the medium 12,determining whether the first information can be written in the medium12. As another example, as a mechanism for writing information in thestorage area of a medium 12, a mechanism preventing rewriting may beemployed. Specific examples of the mechanism include a mechanism inwhich information is written by irreversibly changing a material used asthe storage area of a medium 12 through thermal reaction, photochemicalreaction, or the like. In this case, once the writing unit 106 writesfirst information in the storage area of a medium 12, it subsequentlybecomes impossible to rewrite the first information in the storage areaof the medium 12. Such a configuration enables first information storedin a medium 12 to be prevented from being mistakenly rewrittensubsequently.

Hardware Configuration

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of thestore employee terminal 10 in the sales operations assistance system 1of the second example embodiment. In the present example embodiment, thestore employee terminal 10 includes a medium writing apparatus 1062 inaddition to the configuration of the first example embodiment. Themedium writing apparatus 1062 supports various types of wirelesscommunication standards and is configured to write any information inthe storage area of a medium 12 by means of wireless communication withthe medium 12. It should be noted that, the medium writing apparatus1062 and a medium reading apparatus 1022 may be an integrated apparatus(reader/writer apparatus). A storage device 1008 of the present exampleembodiment further includes program modules for achieving functions ofthe writing unit 106. The processor 1004 reading and executing theprogram modules in a memory 1006 causes the operation of the mediumwriting apparatus 1062 to be controlled and the above-describedfunctions of the writing unit 106 to be achieved.

Operation Example

Using FIG. 6 , a processing flow of the sales operations assistancesystem 1 of the present example embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 isa flowchart illustrating a processing flow in which the writing unit 106writes first information in a medium 12.

First, the writing unit 106 specifies a target product (S202). As anexample, the writing unit 106 can specify a target product, based on aproduct identification label (for example, a bar-code) that a storeemployee caused the store employee terminal 10 to read. In this case,the store employee may cause the store employee terminal 10 to read aproduct identification label stuck on the package of the product. Thestore employee may also select the product identification label of thetarget product from among the individual product identification labelsof a plurality of products printed on a paper medium in a list form andcause the store employee terminal 10 to read the selected productidentification label. In place of the product identification label, animage of the product (for example, a package image including a productname) generated by a not-illustrated image capturing device may be used.In this case, the writing unit 106 can specify the target product, basedon an analysis result of the image of the product. A screen forselection of a product may be displayed on a display for use by a storeemployee or a customer, and the store employee or the customer may beallowed to select a product on the screen. In this case, the writingunit 106 can specify the target product, based on a selection result onthe screen.

The writing unit 106 reads first information corresponding to theproduct specified in the processing in 5202 (S204). The writing unit 106may acquire the product identification information, the unique name, orthe like of the product specified in 5202 as first information. Suchfirst information is stored in, for example, the storage device 1008 inadvance. The writing unit 106 writes the first information acquired inthe processing in 5204 in the storage area of the medium 12, using themedium writing apparatus 1062 (S206). On this occasion, the writing unit106 may write flag information indicating that the first informationcannot be rewritten subsequently, in the storage area of the medium 12at the same time.

In the present example embodiment, when a medium 12 is provided to acustomer, a product that the customer desires to purchase is confirmedand first information of the product is written in the medium 12. Such aconfiguration makes it unnecessary to manage media 12 with respect toall products sold in a store and thereby enables management cost on thestore side to be reduced.

Third Example Embodiment

The present example embodiment is the same as the above-describedexample embodiments except the following differences.

System Configuration

FIG. 7 is a diagram conceptually illustrating a configuration of a salesoperations assistance system 1 according to a third example embodiment.As illustrated in FIG. 7 , in the present example embodiment, the salesoperations assistance system 1 further include a product display shelf14. It should be noted that, in FIG. 7 , an example in which the salesoperations assistance system 1 is configured based on the configurationof the first example embodiment is illustrated. The sales operationsassistance system 1 of the present example embodiment may furtherinclude the configuration described in the second example embodiment.

The product display shelf 14 is installed in a store employee-only area.Although not particularly limited, the store employee-only area is, forexample, the inner side of the checkout counter or a back room of thestore. The product display shelf 14 has a space in which a plurality ofproducts are displayed. In the product display shelf 14, light emittingapparatuses 142 are disposed. A light emitting apparatus 142 is disposedwith respect to each product (at each display place for a product). Theproduct display shelf 14 or the light emitting apparatuses 142 disposedin the product display shelf 14 are connected to a store employeeterminal 10 in a communicable manner. Light emitting operations of thelight emitting apparatuses 142 are, for example, controlled byinstructions from a notification unit 104, as will be described later.

In the present example embodiment, the notification unit 104 acquires,based on first information indicating a type of a product that is storedin a medium 12, second information including information indicating adisplay place (hereinafter, also referred to as “display placeinformation”) of the product. In this case, as an example, thenotification unit 104 is capable of outputting the acquired informationindicating a display place of the product to a first output apparatus1042. The information indicating a display place of a product is, forexample, a map illustrating a display location of the target product inthe product display shelf 14 or a number assigned to the product displayshelf 14. In the present example embodiment, the notification unit 104is capable of causing, based on the acquired display place of theproduct, a light emitting apparatus 142 corresponding to the displayplace of the product to emit light. The notification unit 104 specifiesa light emitting apparatus 142 corresponding to the display place of theproduct from among the plurality of light emitting apparatuses 142disposed in the product display shelf 14. The notification unit 104outputs an instruction to start a light-emitting action to the specifiedlight emitting apparatus 142. In response to the instruction, the lightemitting apparatus 142 emits light. It should be noted that, in thiscase, the light emitting apparatuses 142 can be said to be an outputapparatus (that is, a “first output apparatus”) for use by a storeemployee that outputs second information acquired based on firstinformation read from a medium 12.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an arrangement ofelements constituting the sales operations assistance system 1 in thethird example embodiment. In the drawing, a store when viewed from aboveis illustrated. In the example in the drawing, the store employeeterminal 10 is placed on the checkout counter. Although not illustratedin the example in the drawing, the store employee terminal 10 furtherincludes a scanning apparatus for use in product recognition, a cashregister, a drawer, and an automatic change dispenser. In this case, thestore employee terminal 10 can be said to be a product registrationterminal that performs registration processing of a product that acustomer purchases. The product display shelf 14 is arranged in a storeemployee-only area, which is located behind the checkout counter whenviewed from the customer side. The product display shelf 14 includes alight emitting apparatus 142 for each product.

A specific example of the product display shelf 14 will be describedusing FIG. 9 . FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the product displayshelves 14 when viewed from the front. In the product display shelves14, various types of products 20 are displayed. Although notparticularly limited, a product 20 is a product, such as a cigarette andhot snack food, that is picked by a store employee and handed to acustomer. It should be noted that, in FIG. 9 , a situation in which acigarette is displayed in the product display shelves 14 is illustrated.With regard to luxury items, such as a cigarette, each customer almostalways has a taste for a particular brand. Thus, luxury items, such as acigarette, are well suited for the sales operations assistance system 1of the application concerned.

In FIG. 9 , a case where a light emitting apparatus 142 corresponding toa product 20 displayed at the location numbered 10 emits light inaccordance with an instruction from the notification unit 104 isillustrated. As illustrated in the example in the drawing, it becomespossible for a store employee to easily recognize the display place of atarget product by means of light emission by a light emitting apparatus142. Although not illustrated, the notification unit 104 mayadditionally (or alternatively) output a map illustrating the displaylocation of a target cigarette in the product display shelves 14, thenumber (for example, No. 10) assigned to the cigarette, or the like tothe first output apparatus 1042.

Hardware Configuration

FIG. 10 is a block diagram conceptually illustrating a hardwareconfiguration of the sales operations assistance system 1 of the thirdexample embodiment. In the present example embodiment, the storeemployee terminal 10 is connected to the product display shelf 14 or thelight emitting apparatuses 142 in a communicable manner via a networkinterface 1012. A storage device 1008 of the present example embodimentfurther includes program modules for achieving the above-describedfunctions of the notification unit 104. A processor 1004 reading andexecuting the program modules in a memory 1006 causes theabove-described functions of the notification unit 104 to be achieved.

Operation Example

Using FIG. 11 , a processing flow of the sales operations assistancesystem 1 of the present example embodiment will be described. FIG. 11 isa flowchart illustrating a processing flow in the sales operationsassistance system 1 according to the third example embodiment.

First, a communication unit 102 acquires first information (informationindicating a type of a product) stored in the storage area of a medium12 (S302). This processing is the same as the processing in S102 in FIG.3 .

Subsequently, the notification unit 104, using the first informationstored in the memory 1006 or the like by the communication unit 102,acquires display place information indicating a display place of theproduct (S304). As an example, the display place information is storedin the storage device 1008 in association with the first informationstored in the medium 12. In this case, the notification unit 104 iscapable of reading the display place information, which is associatedwith the first information acquired in the processing in 5302, from thestorage device 1008.

Subsequently, the notification unit 104 notifies a store employee of thedisplay place information acquired in the processing in S304 via thefirst output apparatus 1042 (S306). As an example, when the first outputapparatus 1042 is a display installed for use by store employees, thenotification unit 104 generates drawing data of a screen including thedisplay place information acquired in the processing in S304 and outputsthe drawing data to the display. In this case, the display installed asthe first output apparatus 1042 displays a screen including the displayplace information, based on the drawing data acquired from thenotification unit 104. The store employee is able to know the displayplace of the product corresponding to the medium 12 by checkingdisplayed contents on the display. As another example, when the firstoutput apparatus 1042 is a speaker apparatus installed for use by storeemployees, the notification unit 104 converts the display placeinformation acquired in the processing in S304 to voice data, using, forexample, a known voice synthesis technology and outputs the voice datato the speaker apparatus. The speaker apparatus reproduces a voiceconveying the display place of the product, based on the voice dataacquired from the notification unit 104. The store employee is able toknow the display place of the product corresponding to the medium 12,based on the voice reproduced from the speaker apparatus.

The notification unit 104 may notify the store employee of the displayplace information acquired in the processing in S304 via a lightemitting apparatus 142. This processing is performed in addition to (orin place of) the processing in S306. First, the notification unit 104specifies a light emitting apparatus 142 disposed at a locationindicated by the display place information (S308). In this case, as anexample, the storage device 1008 stores information on the lightemitting apparatuses 142 (for example, address information of the lightemitting apparatuses 142) and display place information in associationwith each other. The notification unit 104 acquires, based on thedisplay place information acquired in the processing in S304,information on the light emitting apparatus 142 corresponding to thedisplay place information. In this way, a target light emittingapparatus 142 is specified from among the plurality of light emittingapparatuses 142 disposed in the product display shelf 14. Thenotification unit 104 outputs an instruction for light emission to thespecified light emitting apparatus 142 (S310). The notification unit 104is capable of, using information on the target light emitting apparatus142, which was acquired in S308, transmitting an instruction for lightemission to the light emitting apparatus 142. The light emittingapparatus 142 specified in the processing in S308 starts alight-emitting action (lighting or blinking) in response to theinstruction for light emission from the notification unit 104 (forexample, FIG. 9 ).

In the present example embodiment that has been described thus far, whena customer purchases a product in the product display shelf 14 that isoften seen in a retail store or the like and is installed in anoperation area of a store employee, a location in the product displayshelf 14 where the product is located is notified to the store employeeby means of a light-emitting action of a light emitting apparatus 142.This configuration enables an operation period required for a storeemployee to provide a product in the product display shelf 14 to acustomer to be reduced. The reduction in the period required to providea customer with a product causes convenience for customers to beimproved.

Fourth Example Embodiment

The present example embodiment differs from the above-described exampleembodiments in including a mechanism in which a product different from aproduct corresponding to first information stored in a medium 12 isrecommended to a customer.

System Configuration

FIG. 12 is a diagram conceptually illustrating a configuration of asales operations assistance system 1 according to a fourth exampleembodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 12 , in the present exampleembodiment, a store employee terminal 10 in the sales operationsassistance system 1 further include a second output apparatus 1044. Itshould be noted that, in FIG. 12 , an example in which the salesoperations assistance system 1 is configured based on the configurationof the first example embodiment is illustrated. The sales operationsassistance system 1 of the present example embodiment may furtherinclude the configurations described in the second and third exampleembodiments.

The second output apparatus 1044 is an apparatus for outputtinginformation for a customer. In the present example embodiment, secondinformation of a product further includes information on another product(related product) related to the product. A related product is, forexample, determined by the store side in advance with respect to eachproduct. A notification unit 104 of the present example embodimentacquires, based on first information stored in a medium 12, informationon a related product. The notification unit 104 outputs the acquiredinformation on the related product to the second output apparatus 1044.The second output apparatus 1044 notifies a customer of the informationon the related product, which was acquired from the notification unit104.

Hardware Configuration

FIG. 13 is a block diagram conceptually illustrating a hardwareconfiguration of the sales operations assistance system 1 of the fourthexample embodiment. In the present example embodiment, to aninput/output interface 1010 of the store employee terminal 10, thesecond output apparatus 1044 is further connected. The second outputapparatus 1044 is an apparatus, such as a display and a speaker, thatoutputs information to a customer. A storage device 1008 of the presentexample embodiment further includes program modules for achieving theabove-described functions of the notification unit 104. A processor 1004reading and executing the program modules in a memory 1006 causes theabove-described functions of the notification unit 104 to be achieved.

Operation Example

Using FIGS. 14 and 15 , a processing flow of the sales operationsassistance system 1 of the present example embodiment will be described.FIGS. 14 and 15 are flowcharts illustrating processing flows in thesales operations assistance system 1 according to the fourth exampleembodiment.

First, the processing flow illustrated in FIG. 14 will be described. InFIG. 14 , a processing flow in which, when a product is not sold by astore or the product is out of stock in the store, related productinformation is notified to a customer is illustrated. First, acommunication unit 102 acquires first information (informationindicating a type of a product) stored in the storage area of a medium12 (S402). This processing is the same as the processing in S102 in FIG.3 .

The notification unit 104 determines whether a product specified by thefirst information acquired in the processing in S402 is a product thatis sold by the store (S404). As an example, the notification unit 104 iscapable of, referring to product master data that store various types ofinformation on products sold by the store, determining whether theproduct specified by the first information stored in the medium 12 issold by the store.

When the product specified by the first information acquired in theprocessing in S402 is a product sold by the store (YES in S404), thenotification unit 104 further determines whether the product is in stock(S406). Information indicating in-stock statuses of products is storedin, for example, a store server (not illustrated) that is connected tothe store employee terminal 10 in a communicable manner.

When the product specified by the first information acquired in theprocessing in S402 is in stock (YES in S406), the notification unit 104acquires information to be notified to the store employee from secondinformation associated with the first information. For example, thenotification unit 104 acquires information indicating the name of theproduct or a display place of the product (S408). The notification unit104 notifies the store employee of the acquired information via a firstoutput apparatus 1042 (S410). The processing is the same as theprocessing flow described in the above-described example embodiments.

When the product specified by the first information acquired in theprocessing in S402 is not a product sold in the store (NO in S404) orthe product specified by the first information acquired in theprocessing in S402 is out of stock (NO in S406), the notification unit104 operates as follows. First, the notification unit 104 acquiresinformation to be notified to the customer from the second informationassociated with the first information. Specifically, the notificationunit 104 acquires related product information of the productcorresponding to the first information acquired in the processing inS402 (S412). The notification unit 104 notifies the customer of theacquired information via the second output apparatus 1044 (S414). When aproduct that the customer desires to purchase is out of stock, notifyingthe customer of information of a related product that the customer maypurchase in place of the product enables an effect of preventing productsales opportunities from being lost to be expected.

Next, the processing flow illustrated in FIG. 15 will be described. InFIG. 15 , a processing flow in which, when first information is readfrom a medium 12, related product information is notified to a customerwithout exception is illustrated.

First, the communication unit 102 acquires first information(information indicating a type of a product) stored in the storage areaof a medium 12 (S502). The notification unit 104 acquires, based on thefirst information acquired by the communication unit 102, secondinformation (additional information of the product corresponding to themedium 12) (S504). This processing is the same as the processing in S102and the processing in S104 in FIG. 3 .

The notification unit 104 acquires information to be notified to a storeemployee from the second information of the product acquired in theprocessing in S504. For example, the notification unit 104 acquiresinformation indicating the name or a display place of the product. Thenotification unit 104 notifies the store employee of the acquiredinformation via the first output apparatus 1042 (S506). This processingis the same as the processing in S408 and S410 in FIG. 14 .

The notification unit 104 acquires information to be notified to thecustomer from the second information of the product acquired in theprocessing in S504. Specifically, the notification unit 104 acquiresrelated product information of the product corresponding to the firstinformation acquired in the processing in S502. The notification unit104 notifies the customer of the acquired information via the secondoutput apparatus 1044 (S508). This processing is the same as theprocessing in S412 and S414 in FIG. 14 .

As described above, by notifying a customer of related productinformation without exception when first information is read from amedium 12, it is possible to induce the customer to purchase, at thesame time, a related product of a product that the customer is topurchase.

Variations of Fourth Example Embodiment

In the present example embodiment, the notification unit 104 may outputrelated product information to, in place of the output apparatus on thecustomer side (the second output apparatus 1044), the output apparatuson the store employee side (the first output apparatus 1042). In thepresent example embodiment, the notification unit 104 may also outputrelated product information to both the output apparatus on the storeemployee side (the first output apparatus 1044) and the output apparatuson the customer side (the second output apparatus 1042). The storeemployee can, by referring to information of a related product output tothe first output apparatus 1042, provide information of a product suitedfor a person being served. In other words, the store employee canprovide the customer with customer service of higher quality. Because ofthis configuration, an effect of increasing the possibility that acustomer purchases a related product can be expected.

While the example embodiments of the disclosure have been describedabove with reference to the drawings, the example embodiments are onlyexemplification of the disclosure and various configurations other thanthe above-described example embodiments can also be employed.

Although, in a plurality of flowcharts used in the above description, aplurality of steps (processing) are described in sequence, the executionsequence of the steps executed in the example embodiments is not limitedto the description sequence. In the example embodiments, the sequence ofthe illustrated steps may be modified within a range not adverselyaffecting the results. The above-described example embodiments can becombined with each other within a range in which the contents do notconflict with each other.

The whole or part of the example embodiments disclosed above can bedescribed as, but not limited to, the following supplementary notes.

1. A sales operations assistance system including:

-   -   a medium that has a storage area that stores first information        that indicates a type of a product; and    -   a store employee terminal that a store employee operates,    -   in which the store employee terminal includes        -   a communication unit that reads, by communicating with the            medium, the first information stored in the storage area,            and        -   a notification unit that acquires second information of the            product, using the first information read by the            communication unit and outputs the second information to a            first output apparatus for use by the store employee.            2. The sales operations assistance system according to            supplementary note 1,    -   in which the store employee terminal further includes        -   a writing unit that writes the first information in the            storage area when the medium is provided to a customer.            3. The sales operations assistance system according to            supplementary note 2,    -   in which the first information written in the storage area by        the writing unit cannot be rewritten.        4. The sales operations assistance system according to any one        of supplementary notes 1 to 3,    -   in which the second information includes information indicating        a display place of the product, and    -   the notification unit outputs the display place of the product        to the first output apparatus.        5. The sales operations assistance system according to        supplementary note 4,    -   in which the first output apparatus is a light emitting        apparatus disposed with respect to each product in a product        display shelf installed in a store employee-only area, and    -   the notification unit causes, among light emitting apparatuses        each of which is disposed with respect to each product, the        light emitting apparatus corresponding to the display place of        the product to emit light, the display place being indicated by        the second information.        6. The sales operations assistance system according to any one        of supplementary notes 1 to 5,    -   in which the second information further includes information on        a related product of the product, and the notification unit        outputs the information on the related product to a second        output apparatus for use by a customer.        7. The sales operations assistance system according to any one        of supplementary notes 1 to 6,    -   in which the store employee terminal is a product registration        terminal that registers a product that a customer purchases.        8. The sales operations assistance system according to any one        of supplementary notes 1 to 7,    -   in which the product is a cigarette.        19. A sales operations assistance method performed by a        computer, the method including    -   by communicating with a medium having a storage area that stores        first information indicating a type of a product, reading the        first information stored in the storage area, and    -   acquiring second information of the product, using the read        first information, and outputting the second information to a        first output apparatus for use by a store employee.        10. The sales operations assistance method performed by the        computer according to supplementary note 9, the method further        including    -   when the medium is provided to a customer, writing the first        information in the storage area.        11. The sales operations assistance method according to        supplementary note 10,    -   in which the first information written in the storage area        cannot be rewritten.        12. The sales operations assistance method performed by the        computer according to any one of supplementary notes 9 to 11,    -   in which the second information includes information indicating        a display place of the product,    -   the method further including outputting the display place of the        product to the first output apparatus.        13. The sales operations assistance method performed by the        compute according to supplementary note 12,    -   in which the first output apparatus is a light emitting        apparatus disposed with respect to each product in a product        display shelf installed in a store employee-only area,    -   the method further including causing, among light emitting        apparatuses each of which is disposed with respect to each        product, the light emitting apparatus corresponding to the        display place of the product to emit light, the display place        being indicated by the second information.        14. The sales operations assistance method performed by the        computer according to any one of supplementary notes 9 to 13,    -   in which the second information further includes information on        a related product of the product,    -   the method further including outputting the information on the        related product to a second output apparatus for use by a        customer.        15. The sales operations assistance method according to any one        of supplementary notes 9 to 14,    -   in which the computer is a product registration terminal that        registers a product that a customer purchases.        16. The sales operations assistance method according to any one        of supplementary notes 9 to 15,    -   in which the product is a cigarette.        17. A program causing a computer to execute a sales operations        assistance method according to any one of supplementary notes 9        to 16.

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2018-000611, filed on Jan. 5, 2018, thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

1. A device comprising: at least one memory configured to storeinstructions; and at least one processor configured to execute theinstructions to: obtain first information from a medium by scanning anidentification surface of the medium of a customer; acquire secondinformation of a product, based on the first information; and control,based on the second information, an output apparatus to highlight ashelf, wherein the output apparatus is attached to the shelf at a placeat which the product is located in the store.
 2. The device according toclaim 1, wherein the first information is obtained from a location thatis separated from the place at which the product is located in thestore.
 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the identificationsurface includes an identification information for the product.
 4. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein the output device is installed at astore employee-only area.
 5. The device according to claim 4, whereinthe output device is installed at a checkout counter area of the storeemployee-only area.
 6. The device according to claim 1, wherein thefirst information indicates one type of the product.
 7. The deviceaccording to claim 6, wherein the medium stores the first information ina non-rewritable state.
 8. The device according to claim 1, wherein thesecond information indicates the place of the product at the shelf 9.The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor isfurther configured to execute the instructions to: write the firstinformation into the medium.
 10. The device according to claim 9,wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute theinstructions to: confirm a presence or an absence of a flag informationbefore writing the first information into the medium, the flaginformation indicating that the first information cannot be rewrittensubsequently; write the first information along with the flaginformation in the medium when the absence of the flag information isconfirmed; and not write the first information in the medium when thepresence of the flag information is confirmed.
 11. A control methodcomprising: by a computer, obtaining first information from a medium byscanning an identification surface of the medium of a customer;acquiring second information of a product, based on the firstinformation; and controlling, based on the second information, an outputapparatus to highlight a shelf, wherein the output apparatus is attachedto the shelf at a place at which the product is located in the store.12. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program causinga computer to execute a method, the method comprising: obtaining firstinformation from a medium by scanning an identification surface of themedium of a customer; acquiring second information of a product, basedon the first information; and controlling, based on the secondinformation, an output apparatus to highlight a shelf, wherein theoutput apparatus is attached to the shelf at a place at which theproduct is located in the store.